1. Realising the potential of
system leadership
An insight into the article by David Hopkins
Ryan Brown 2082535
EDUC9707- Leading Change in the Digital Age

2. A brief outline of the content of the article
A group discussion on the key themes of the article
An opportunity to share our learning
A conclusion and summary of our learning
The structure of this presentation will
include:

3. “In the future… leaders will face problems for
which there is no immediate solution, and
will have to build the capacity to deal with
them. This requires a different kind of
leadership.” (Hopkins, 2008, pp.22)
The Problem…

4. Some inspiration…

5. moral
purpose
professional development
strategic acumen
(adaptability)
developing people
work as a change agent
act as a community leader
improve school in
challenging context
leading educational
partnerships
partner a low achieving
school
individual professional organisational system tranformational

6. …are those head teachers who are willing
to shoulder system leadership roles, who care
about and work for the success of other
schools as well as their own. (Hopkins, 2008, pp.22)
System Leaders…

7. It’s about leading all education, rather than
focusing solely on one school or area
It’s about investing leadership in a system
wide approach, without limitations
the motivation…

8. Moral Purpose that drives the leadership
The Adaptability of leadership
The Domains of leadership
Roles associated with leadership
A System Leader has to consider…

9. moral
purpose
professional development
strategic acumen
(adaptability)
developing people
work as a change agent
act as a community leader
improve school in
challenging context
leading educational
partnerships
partner a low achieving
school
individual professional organisational system tranformational

10. moral
purpose
individual professional organisational system tranformational

11. Defines “the passion to proceed, or encouragement
for others to follow”(Hopkins, 2008, pp.23)
This is largely based on the commitment to
improve student learning, while engaging the entire
organisation of teaching, learning and curriculum.
Moral Purpose

12. Achieved through:
Measuring success in accordance with student learning
Ensuring learning is personalised
Committing to personal and professional development
Developing learning communities
Improving culture and context of learning
Recognising influence of classroom, school and system on each other

13. “a problem situation for which solutions lie outside
current ways of operating”
“adaptive challenges demand learning, as they require
new ways of thinking and operating.”
“Mobilising people to meet adaptive challenges is at
the heart of leadership practice.”
(Hopkins, 2008, pp.25-26)
We need adaptability…

14. Equipping people to deal with new situations
Teaching people to be adaptable
Committing to ongoing to learning
In summary: Professional Development
It’s about…

15. moral
purpose
individual professional organisational system tranformational

16. moral
purpose
professional development
strategic acumen
(adaptability)
individual professional organisational system tranformational

17. How does leadership apply to school
improvement?
How does a leader improve a school’s
performance?
The Domains of Leadership

18. Setting Direction
Managing Teaching and learning
Developing People
Developing The Organisation
The Domains of Leadership

19. moral
purpose
professional development
strategic acumen
(adaptability)
individual professional organisational system tranformational

20. moral
purpose
professional development
strategic acumen
(adaptability)
developing people
individual professional organisational system tranformational

21. Describe the type of actions that a System leader
might perform
These are categorised but not limited in their aim to
create:
A wider resource for school improvement
An authentic response to failing schools
A means of resolving emerging challenges
A sustainable strategy for maintaining development
The Roles of System Leaders…

22. Developing and leading a successful educational
improvement partnership
Choosing to lead in extremely challenging circumstances
Partnering with a struggling school in order to improve it
Acting as a community leader to broker and shape partnerships
and relationships around learning
Working as a change agent within the system
Could you imagine someone…

23. moral
purpose
professional development
strategic acumen
(adaptability)
developing people
individual professional organisational system tranformational

24. moral
purpose
professional development
strategic acumen
(adaptability)
developing people
work as a change agent
act as a community leader
improve school in
challenging context
leading educational
partnerships
partner a low achieving
school
individual professional organisational system tranformational

25. What are the moral purposes that motivate effective leaders?
Why is professional development and adaptability regarded
so highly?
Who is best equipped to be a system leader?
Is the system leadership model realistic for South Australian
Schools?
Discussion Questions

26. So where do we sit?

27. Sharing and communication is holding increased
weight and value
Leadership and learning can no longer be confined
The benefit of the whole, is not done by separating its parts
Successful schools are in the prime position to be offering
support and leadership on a system wide level.
Summary

28. Hopkins, D. 2008. Realising the potential of system
leadership. In Hopkins, D. 2008. Improving School
Leadership (vol2): Case studies on system leadership.
OECD pp. 21-35
Reference